January 4, 2026 Sketchbook Challenge

Hello and Happy Sunday. Yesterday was a great art day. I am in a few classes and this one is with Toni Burt I love creating with her. It’s not really my style but it is still very engaging and entertaining all the same. It teaches a sketchy type art and simple watercolors. She makes her own watercolors, which are so vibrant and beautiful. She is living in Australia. The original photo is from Melbourne in the 1960’s but the people and dog all inspired by L. S. Lowryare from the early 20th century. Inspired by L.S. Lowry an English painter. I have enjoyed immensely learning art history. I watched two of his documentaries this early morning. I only wish I could have went to college (which I have said since my teens). 
I went to nursing school instead. I had a baby ( Jr.) and one on the way 

(Alexis) at 18. I finished nursing school graduating on March 31, 1989 and Alexis was born on April 2. I started working when she was two weeks old, Jr. went to day care and Alexis stayed with my best friend Bridget. Whom passed away a few years later from AIDS. Rest in peace Bridget. I miss her so much. Honestly no words can express how much she helped me and the things she taught me. She was almost 10 years older than me. It truly was a blessing to be friends with her. We did so many things together. She once even lived in the same neighborhood and she was at my house all the time. Good times! 

Day 3 of the Sketchbook Challenge a 30 day challenge by Susan Yeates. Everyone is given a prompt each day. This was day three “stationary” well I just started at it and then I watched the video that went with the prompt. That to was inspired by an artist whom I couldn’t quite find as I didn’t have the correct spelling or grammar. Someone graciously left me a message it is 

 Sir Michael Craig-Martin. That was not whom I searched for. Which my sketch has nothing or the sort inspired by his works of art. The prompt was to be colorful however I try to follow Susan’s advice about creating first and consuming later, and I did exactly that. As someone left a comment for me. Smiling here. 

Thought you might like my view currently as I drink my coffee and absorb sunshine watching the beautiful creatures. That bird camera my daughter Alexis and Amanda sent me last year for my birthday. I have greatly had the pleasure to learn more about the birds and see them up close and personal. Wonderful! Thank you Alexis and Amanda. 

Amelia sent me some pictures yesterday of the babies. Brooks on the snowmobile. 

Briar is already changed so much and doing so well. 

This was prompt #2 or day 2 a shell. Colorful however I had the idea to use a very small journal like shirt pocket size and I did two prompts in that journal and it just wasn’t for me. I don’t like that it’s not watercolor paper but we use what we have. 

I made some bacon it takes a week but this time I used the brown sugar that is sugar free (which is very good) and the redmans salt. Bruce smoked it and then we fried it up. One of the pork belly I added pepper which was very good. We froze the rest already sliced for a breakfast one morning. 

Baker they get in this window all the time. They love watching the birds. 

These boys love apples. 🍎 he was telling me that daddy put up the blow up Christmas statues. 

We went over to the Gladstone lighthouse while Kim and Jr. (kiddos) were here for the Thanksgiving holiday. We had a great day. It was cold and windy. 

We took Sophia with us as she is a car rider she loves to go with us anywhere. However when it’s super cold she can’t go. She tries by stalking me the whole time I am trying to get ready to leave. Like mommy please take me. Kim took the picture. 

We stopped at Meijer on the way home that day.  Levi and I sitting on the bench waiting while Bruce and everyone shopped. 

By the lighthouse 

The day Briar was born trying to share some of the best memories of 2025. 

Breathtaking Moments. Absolutely beautiful!!! Cody, Briar and Amelia. Congratulations. Each day I will try to add more pictures of the best of 2025. 
 

I have carried on a bit more than expected today. Happy Sunday everyone. Have a great day sending love, hugs and good vibes. Love you guys. 😘

Dawn Gallop 

Tweet

Week 23 of Donna Downeys 48 Week Journaling Workshop and the End of Second Semester ~Positive Intentions~ with a lot of Tam

Hello I hope all has been going well with you and yours. We have been working hard here as usual. We have planted even more than usual....which in turns makes for more duties. Colten has had a new girlfriend and he hasn't had time to help out as much. So Bruce and I have been working extra hard. The boys have had a lot of school work and are getting spring fever to get out more and ride their skateboards. Mother's Day was nice Bruce put up a storm door on the second floor door to the front porch so we could have a screen to get a nice flow of air. I have asked for this door for more than 10 years...no joke. Now as Colby said "this door is amazing" it allows in such a nice few of air and a tremendous amount of beautiful cascading light. We have now had it almost a week, so we have certainly enjoyed it to the fullest. I can see all the hummingbirds we feed now without looking out the closed front door potentially scaring off the hummingbirds. I love seeing them!! Well this one took me approximately two weeks to complete. I did not have the stencils for the one Donna did nor did I feel for that one. This inspiration actually came from Tam's book  or you can view her wonderful community at Tamara Laporte Willowing.com she is full of beautiful sweet calming words and a passion for helping others to see the beauty in ones self and getting rid of that inner critic. ALL I CAN SAY TAM is AMAZING!!!! I started her first Life Book 2012 and one of what I call my best painting was on she taught me. Love ya Tam! Every since I saw her painting in the book I have wanted to paint it. She makes it so easy and it is nice to actually complete a project from a book and being able to use the inspiration. I enjoyed the process immensely. My aunt came out for Mother's Day and I fixed her a good meal and a cake. I didn't invite her for Easter (hello folks we are in a Pandemic) however she thinks I should have and was actually crossed with me. She works at a pharmacy and is a frontline cashier with no mask, no shield and no gloves. Anyhoo she came here and it was a very nice day. So this week which I can hardly believe it is Week 23 and almost the end of the second semester. I am feeling so accomplished!!! YES! Go check out Donna's 48 Weeks. She is fun and a great teacher! 

I love making these oh my do I ever! I actually learned this technique back in 2010 at a Donna Downey Inspired workshop I can't remember her name but she was actually a mural painter. This is what we made in class that day, but I had to finish it home....

this is what I made in 2010 

This is where it hangs in my room....going out to make back porch. 

the full spread of the two pages I just love it so much fun and whimsical 

if you would like to see the full last 22 posts see below on each of the weeks 

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

WEEK 5

WEEK 6 

Week 7

WEEK 8

Week 9 

WEEK 10 

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15 

Week 16

Week 17

Week 18 

Week 19

Week 20

Week 21 

Week 22

I can hardly believe I have made It this far....but so thankful and feeling so accomplished. 

Now on to week 24 and the end of the second semester 

YAY!!! 

Two more semesters to go

So basically I have almost completed half of the 48 weeks ~happy dance 

Dusty has been picking roses like crazy for our rose water we even have a new drying rack that hangs from the ceiling and is huge so now we have even extra room for drying roses and other herbs

I have been making bracelets again to add to my Etsy store GO HERE 

On the Etsy store 

So please if you would like to see Tamara Laporte go to her site Willowing dot com and you can find her book there and it was lesson 6 Looking Inward. 

I have been making more jams too getting ready for new fruits of the season to come 

Made raspberry again this is always a delicious jam 

its on my Etsy store too 

Love raspberry jam 

mango habanero 

Oh my delicious mango habanero 

I made a bunch more wintergreen salves these are excellent for my fibromyalgia pain and putting on your chest as a chest rub and for super dry hands and feet again on my Etsy store 

I already have beautiful tomatoes loving it!!! 

I have more than 300 tomato plants so we are hoping for an amazing year of tomatoes....it really helps our family out 

I planted a bunch in cloth bags this year a new thing we are trying just to see and easy on my back and my fibromyalgia pain I have fields of them too 

Go to see our pickle video on YouTube 

As you can see the fields are loaded 

Take care stay safe missing you all!!! 

Hugs to all and until to next time 

Love you guys!! 

Dawn Gallop 

Tweet

Week 21 of Donna Downey's 48 Weeks Journaling Workshop ~Believe in Tomorrow~

      Wow can you hardly believe I got another painting done despite the extra workload?? Well, yep I did since I haven't had as many orders and the farmers market to prepare for my workload in that aspect is much slower, but I have been forever busy with plants, greenhouse, goats, and the homeschool life. Our life on the farm is a stay home life anyway so not going anywhere other than to make deliveries one day a week its work as usual here. So when I can I sneak up to the third floor of my house (as I haven't opened up my paint porch yet this spring) and paint. However after this week I actually have to clean up my space before Bruce starts bitching about it. I have stuff all over the floor and on the table and boxes of markers, paint pens, paints all the hoopla that goes with a mixed media artist. I certainly enjoyed myself with this one as this is totally freeing. I did sooooo want to do a face though as that is what I love. I am loving the flowers though. So springs like too. It is 11;15 Bruce is still working on the taxes and I am listening to Beethoven and typing up this blog. It was super hot today I did all the work outside while Bruce and Colten helped Jr., the bees are certainly loving this weather. It was windy and when it is windy you seem much more tired while working in the wind??!! Kinda just wears on ya. My plants are all doing awesome I so need to start digging holes....talk about getting callous on your hands....this is the time of year for that. Well on to the painting....this one is way off from Donna's but since its springtime...Easter this weekend....I was feeling the flowers and the quote by Aubrey Hepburn "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." To me what a perfect quote for our uncertainties at this current time. I have talked with other farmers and they have told me that folks have been saying they planted a garden this year (well or getting ready to start) so this is exciting to hear. I know the seed companies and loving it!!! I always sell (or should I say sold) a lot f paints at the market each year. I say sold due to Covid-19 since we have no shows or markets at this time. I seriously need more orders on my Etsy store. I not only miss our customers, but my market family and all my friends. The girl is the girl who has planted the garden and as the quote goes..........

by Claude Monet. 

The Art of Possibilities as a garden has endless possibilities. When I am gardening I am definitely quite lost in a haze of unreality. The sun shining on my face and back I love it!! It all just makes me HAPPY. 

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

WEEK 5

WEEK 6 

Week 7

WEEK 8

Week 9 

WEEK 10 

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15 

Week 16

Week 17

Week 18 

Week 19

Week 20

If you would like to go find out more about the workshop go to Donna's Website or this class exactly go to 48Weeks

I can hardly believe I have made it to 21 weeks (well it only took six years) lol no that's just me too much other stuff to do. 

You can see the texture its all just aahhhh! 

That so wonderful quote by Aubrey Hepburn I so remember watching her movies when I was a kid my mom always loved those movies. Shirley Temple was my favorite back then. One of my favorite movies from the earlier movies was Errol Flynn. 

The sun has a lot of texture too I also used iridescent paints but you can't tell much like this. 

The whole layout in the book I had originally forgot to post this but now I am updating.....its Friday night now. Still makes me happy to look at! 

Take care.....and have a great weekend!!!! 🦋

The art of possibilities is a stencil by Donna Downey too

I wanted to share these pics that came up in my Timehop the other day which is so funny because ti was exactly the day I did a majority of this painting well on that day in like 2013 which was also April I went to Donna Downey's for a workshop and that is where my all time favorite artist Mindy Lacefield and Dina Wakley and the boys got to ride in the limo which was a huge deal!

Cody, Colten, Colby, Cooper, and Dusty seven years ago. I can hardly believe it we had gone up to Hendersonville so I could be in the workshop oh what great times.....love love and miss those days. 

Look at the boys riding in the limo they still talk about it. Donna invited them to ride along to the restaurant. 

It was a very long limo

here at the restaurant where Donna even paid for their meals....what a wonderful person to think of them too. 

These were some of the art we worked on while there the girl I actual had to close my eyes to draw....yeah close my eyes it was a really different ...

Donna and me 

Mindy and I 

Dina and Donna 

Me and Dina Wakley

This was another one of my paintings I did their was once my phone cover and I still sell this as a post card at Zazzle.com 

Irish Soda Bread is one of the boys favorites I made them this week 

It is always a big hit here

I hope everyone is staying safe and well. I miss seeing everyone at our markets I cannot say that enough. Please everyone take care and enjoy your upcoming weekend. It is technically the beginning of our spring break this week coming so the boys won't be getting any school work delivered this coming week. The school and the cafeteria and bus drivers have absolutely done an amazing job during this stay home executive order. I am so very PROUD of them!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICES. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!! 

Air Hugs, 

Dawn Gallop

Tweet